Our Latest Articles

Glossary
Leasing Agent

4 min read

Leasing Agent

Leasing agents are crucial players in the real estate industry. They operate as a critical link between property owners and prospective tenants....

Glossary
What is a Master Lease?

3 min read

What is a Master Lease?

A master lease is a contractual agreement where an individual or property management company (the master tenant) leases an entire property from...

Glossary
What is Assignment of Lease?

3 min read

What is Assignment of Lease?

An assignment of lease, or lease assignment, is a critical concept in property management where an existing tenant (assignor) transfers their rights...

Glossary
What is a Lease Abstract?

3 min read

What is a Lease Abstract?

In the intricate realm of property management, comprehending and handling lease agreements is essential. One way to manage leases effectively is to...

Glossary
What is a Percentage Lease?

3 min read

What is a Percentage Lease?

A percentage lease is a commercial lease agreement where the tenant pays a base rent plus a percentage of their gross sales...

Glossary
What is Adverse Possession?

3 min read

What is Adverse Possession?

Adverse possession is a principle that allows a trespasser to legally claim ownership of land they’ve occupied for an extended period, provided...

Glossary
What is Market Rent?

3 min read

What is Market Rent?

Market rent refers to the average amount tenants are willing to pay for a rental property in a specific location, taking into...

Glossary
What is a Ground Lease?

4 min read

What is a Ground Lease?

A ground lease, also known as a land lease, is a lease agreement where the tenant leases the land from the landowner...

Glossary
What is a Lessee?

3 min read

What is a Lessee?

A lessee is an individual or entity that leases an asset from another party, known as the lessor. In real estate, the...

Glossary
What is a Vacancy Loss?

4 min read

What is a Vacancy Loss?

Vacancy loss refers to the financial impact experienced by landlords or property owners when rental units or properties remain unoccupied for a...

Glossary
What is a Lease Option?

9 min read

What is a Lease Option?

Lease options are like standard lease agreements, except they allow tenants the option to buy a rented property after a specified period,...

Glossary
What is a Gross Lease?

6 min read

What is a Gross Lease?

A gross lease, most common in commercial leases, is one in which the tenant pays a flat fee for rent, and the...

Glossary
What are Habitability Standards?

6 min read

What are Habitability Standards?

Habitability standards represent the minimum requirements a dwelling must meet to be considered fit for human habitation.

Glossary
What is Rent Control Law?

6 min read

What is Rent Control Law?

Rent control laws dictate the amount a landlord can charge for rent and lease renewals.

Podcast
1031 Exchanges

8 min watch

1031 Exchanges

In this episode of 'Be A Better Landlord', we are joined by Kayla Mahoney, a Commercial Real Estate Advisor from Capital Property...

Glossary
What is a Homeowners Association?

10 min read

What is a Homeowners Association?

Explore the HOA definition! Learn how homeowners associations operate and impact property management and owner responsibilities.

Glossary
What is a Rent Ledger?

4 min read

What is a Rent Ledger?

Understand rent ledgers with our Landlord Glossary article. Get insights into tracking rental payments and maintaining financial records.

Glossary
What is a Leasehold Estate?

3 min read

What is a Leasehold Estate?

A leasehold estate is a property interest that a tenant (lessee) holds thanks to a lease agreement with a property owner (lessor).

Glossary
What is a Modified Gross Lease?

3 min read

What is a Modified Gross Lease?

A modified gross lease, the tenant pays a base rent and then takes on a proportional share of other costs associated with...

Glossary
What is a Turnkey Property?

3 min read

What is a Turnkey Property?

A Turnkey Property is a home (single-family residence, duplex, or apartment) that is ready for a tenant to move into from day...

Glossary
What is a Sublease?

4 min read

What is a Sublease?

Subleasing is an option for handling the remainder of a lease that a current tenant is unable to complete.

Glossary
What is a Sublet?

5 min read

What is a Sublet?

Subletting is one of the most common options for covering a portion of a lease if a current tenant needs to move...

Glossary
What is a Real Estate Agent?

4 min read

What is a Real Estate Agent?

Learn what a real estate agent does, their skills, and how they facilitate property deals for buyers and sellers

Glossary
What is a Real Estate Broker?

4 min read

What is a Real Estate Broker?

Explore the role and importance of a real estate broker in property transactions with our clear definition.

Glossary
What is Net Operating Income (NOI)?

3 min read

What is Net Operating Income (NOI)?

Unravel financial aspects of property management with our Net Operating Income (NOI) definition. Learn more landlord terms here.

Glossary
What is a Real Estate Investment?

3 min read

What is a Real Estate Investment?

Master real estate with our definition guide, starting with an in-depth look at real estate investment from a landlord's perspective.

Glossary
What is an Apartment?

3 min read

What is an Apartment?

Discover Apartments: From Multifamily Properties to Ownership Pros and Cons - Learn all about what apartments mean.

Glossary
What are Amenities?

2 min read

What are Amenities?

Explore Amenities in Property Management: Learn how these desirable features enhance the appeal of homes, apartments, and communities.

Blog
What Are Squatter’s Rights?

7 min read

What Are Squatter’s Rights?

As a landlord, you might have to deal with squatters at your vacant rentals - learn what rights squatters have and how...

Blog
What is a Home Warranty for Landlords?

6 min read

What is a Home Warranty for Landlords?

Understand the benefits and considerations of a home warranty for landlords, covering repairs and replacements of key home systems and appliances.

Glossary
What is a Duplex?

4 min read

What is a Duplex?

A duplex house is a residential property consisting of two separate units in a single building.

Glossary
What is an Eviction?

5 min read

What is an Eviction?

A legal process in which a landlord removes a renting tenant from their rental property.

Glossary
What is the Eviction Moratorium?

3 min read

What is the Eviction Moratorium?

A halting of evictions, often under specific conditions, as enacted by Congress on March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glossary
What is Fair Housing?

3 min read

What is Fair Housing?

The right to choose housing free from discrimination based on protected attributes, including sexuality, national origin, and race.

Glossary
What is a FICO Score?

3 min read

What is a FICO Score?

A three-digit number that summarizes a borrower’s financial history to communicate their lendability.

Glossary
What is a Furnished Rental?

3 min read

What is a Furnished Rental?

A rental unit that comes pre-supplied with the furniture and appliances that its tenants will require.

Glossary
What is a Guarantor?

5 min read

What is a Guarantor?

Someone who agrees to be on a lease and guarantees to pay a tenant’s rent in the event that the tenant defaults...

Glossary
What is Homeowner Insurance?

2 min read

What is Homeowner Insurance?

Homeowner insurance is an insurance policy designed to protect the borrower’s primary residence.

Glossary
What is a Holdover Tenant?

5 min read

What is a Holdover Tenant?

A renter who doesn’t vacate the unit after the expiration of their lease without a renewed contract.

Glossary
What is House Hacking?

5 min read

What is House Hacking?

The process of renting out a portion of your primary residence, either as a long-term or short-term rental.

Glossary
What is a Landlord?

5 min read

What is a Landlord?

The owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or other real estate which is rented or leased to a tenant.

Glossary
What is a Mortgage?

4 min read

What is a Mortgage?

A type of loan used to purchase or maintain property or land.

Glossary
What is a Noise Complaint?

3 min read

What is a Noise Complaint?

A written or verbal complaint made against a person or group that’s causing excessive noise.

Glossary
What is Occupancy?

3 min read

What is Occupancy?

A legal term that refers to how a person can use land or a building.

Glossary
What is Personal Property?

4 min read

What is Personal Property?

Any movable property that is not permanently attached to real estate. This includes furniture, appliances, and vehicles.

Glossary
What is a Pet Deposit?

3 min read

What is a Pet Deposit?

A one-time fee landlords can ask tenants to pay to mitigate the cost of property damage and losses caused by their...

Glossary
What is Pet Rent?

2 min read

What is Pet Rent?

A monthly charge the tenant pays to keep their animal in the rental.

Glossary
What is Prorated Rent?

5 min read

What is Prorated Rent?

The amount a landlord will charge a tenant when they are only occupying a property for part of the agreed-upon term.

Glossary
What are Reasonable Accommodations?

4 min read

What are Reasonable Accommodations?

A change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service intended to help a person with disabilities use and enjoy...

Glossary
What is Rent Collection?

2 min read

What is Rent Collection?

The act of a landlord or property manager gathering the monthly rent payment from their tenant on a set date as outlined...

Glossary
What are Rent Payments?

5 min read

What are Rent Payments?

A monthly fee paid by the tenant to their landlord or property manager in accordance with their lease agreement.

Glossary
What is a Rent Roll?

3 min read

What is a Rent Roll?

A document that lists due rent and rents that have been collected on an investment property.

Glossary
What is Rental Arbitrage?

5 min read

What is Rental Arbitrage?

The practice of renting out a long-term rental on a short-term rental platform such as Airbnb or VRBO.

Glossary
What is Renters Insurance?

2 min read

What is Renters Insurance?

A type of insurance policy that protects the tenant’s personal belongings, lawsuits related to their tenancy, and medical expenses for injuries incurred...

Glossary
What is a Tenant?

4 min read

What is a Tenant?

A person who occupies rental property owned by a landlord.

Glossary
What is a Tenant Estoppel Certificate?

5 min read

What is a Tenant Estoppel Certificate?

A written, signed stipulation that verifies the terms, conditions, and current status of a lease agreement, as well as proof of cash...

Glossary
What is a Townhouse?

3 min read

What is a Townhouse?

A type of real estate that has multiple floors and shares at least two of its walls with other residences.

Glossary
What is a Virtual Assistant?

2 min read

What is a Virtual Assistant?

An independent contractor who handles the administrative tasks for a client or business, usually from a remote location.

Glossary
What is Workforce Housing?

3 min read

What is Workforce Housing?

Affordable housing for households earning between 60-120% of their area’s median income.

Glossary
What is Zoning?

5 min read

What is Zoning?

A set of regulations that control how land is used, including what types of buildings can be constructed, where they can be...

Glossary
What is a 1031 Exchange?

3 min read

What is a 1031 Exchange?

A real estate investment tool that allows taxpayers to defer capital gains taxes by swapping one investment for another, as defined under...

Glossary
What is Affordable Housing?

3 min read

What is Affordable Housing?

Housing on which the occupant pays no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs, including utilities.

Glossary
What is Schedule E?

5 min read

What is Schedule E?

Used for reporting supplemental income and loss as part of a personal tax return on IRS Form 1040.

Glossary
What is a Slumlord?

3 min read

What is a Slumlord?

Slang for an unscrupulous landlord who is more concerned about their profits than their tenants or neighborhood.

Glossary
What is a Squatter?

3 min read

What is a Squatter?

Someone who starts living on a property they don’t own without permission.

Glossary
What is a Therapy Animal?

3 min read

What is a Therapy Animal?

A creature who is registered by an animal-assisted intervention organization to benefit people in need.

Glossary
What is a Triple Net Lease (NNN)?

7 min read

What is a Triple Net Lease (NNN)?

A commercial real estate lease agreement in which the tenant pays the real estate taxes, insurance premiums, and maintenance costs in addition...

Glossary
What is a Triplex?

2 min read

What is a Triplex?

A property comprising three individual units in one building, and each unit typically shares at least one common wall.

Glossary
What are Utilities?

8 min read

What are Utilities?

The essential daily services that a person needs in order to have a working, functional living space.

Glossary
What is a Vacation Rental?

3 min read

What is a Vacation Rental?

An investment property rented out for short periods of time, typically less than one month.

Glossary
What is a Room Rental Agreement?

5 min read

What is a Room Rental Agreement?

An agreement between you and the person to whom you are renting a room within a rental unit. It outlines the rules...

Glossary
What is a Security Deposit?

3 min read

What is a Security Deposit?

Money that a tenant gives to their landlord as proof of their intent to move in and care for the unit.

Glossary
What is the BRRRR Method?

6 min read

What is the BRRRR Method?

A real estate investment strategy hinged on using cash or short-term financing to buy a distressed property or a property under foreclosure....

Glossary
What is Cash-on-Cash Return?

5 min read

What is Cash-on-Cash Return?

A metric used to determine how profitable a real estate investment will be, calculated by taking the total amount of cash generated...

Glossary
What is a C Corporation (C Corp)?

5 min read

What is a C Corporation (C Corp)?

A legal structure for a business in which the owners, or shareholders, are taxed independently from the corporation.

Glossary
What is a Companion Animal?

2 min read

What is a Companion Animal?

A domestic creature that provides companionship to a human but has no special protections under federal law.

Glossary
What is a Co-Signer?

4 min read

What is a Co-Signer?

Understanding the role of a cosigner in rental agreements enhances the security of your investment. Learn more about cosigners here!

Glossary
What is a Credit Check?

2 min read

What is a Credit Check?

A summary of a consumer’s existing and past credit, payment habits, and types of loans taken out that are used to...

Glossary
What is a Credit Score?

3 min read

What is a Credit Score?

A three-digit number between 300 and 850 that communicates a consumer’s creditworthiness based on their credit history.

Glossary
What is Amortization?

4 min read

What is Amortization?

The systematic repayment of a debt or other financial obligation, often paid in installments.

Glossary
What is an Appraisal?

6 min read

What is an Appraisal?

A professional opinion on the monetary value of real estate, normally conducted by a licensed appraiser independent of both the lender and...

Glossary
What is Appraised Value?

6 min read

What is Appraised Value?

The amount a real estate appraiser estimates your home is worth when it comes time to sell it.

Glossary
What is Asset Management?

2 min read

What is Asset Management?

The process of identifying, acquiring, and maintaining assets to maximize their value to an organization.

Glossary
What is a Background Check?

3 min read

What is a Background Check?

A method to confirm an individual’s identity using financial, criminal, and commercial data.

Glossary
What is a Balloon Mortgage?

3 min read

What is a Balloon Mortgage?

A mortgage in which a homebuyer makes low payments throughout the loan period but pays a lump sum at the end of...

Glossary
What is a Brownstone?

2 min read

What is a Brownstone?

A mortgage in which a homebuyer makes low payments throughout the loan period but pays a lump sum at the end of...

Blog
What is a Rent-Controlled Apartment?

7 min read

What is a Rent-Controlled Apartment?

Are you curious about rent-controlled apartments? Our guide will help you understand how rent control works and who sets the rates.

Blog
What is on a Standard Lease Agreement?

9 min read

What is on a Standard Lease Agreement?

This comprehensive guide explores what's included in a standard lease agreement and outlines typical sections from rent price to maintenance terms.

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